Tourism Development and the Environment: Beyond Sustainability?

Description

Tourism Development and the Environment: Beyond Sustainability? challenges the sustainable tourism development paradigm that has come to dominate both theoretical and practical approaches to tourism development over the last two decades. It extends the sustainable tourism debate beyond the arguably managerialist 'blueprint' and destination-focused approach that continues to characterise even the most recent 'sustainability' agenda within tourism development. Reviewing the evolution of the sustainable tourism development concept, its contemporary manifestations in academic literature and policy developments and processes, the author compares its limitations to prevailing political-economic, socio-cultural and environmental contexts. He then proposes alternative approaches to tourism development which, nevertheless, retain environmental sustainability as a prerequisite of tourism development. This book also acts as an introduction to the Earthscan series Tourism, Environment and Development. About the series: 'Tourism, Environment and Development' aims to explore, within a variety of contexts, the developmental role of tourism as it relates explicitly to its environmental consequences. Each book will review critically and challenge 'traditional' perspectives on (sustainable) tourism development, exploring new approaches that reflect contemporary economic, socio-cultural and political contexts.

Richard Sharpley is Professor of Tourism and Development at the University of Central Lancashire, UK

'Tourism Development and the Environment: Beyond Sustainability? is a timely, refreshing, and thought-provoking critique of sustainable tourism development. Challenging us to re-examine the very nature of sustainability, globalisation, and the tourism industry as a capitalist endeavour, it is essential reading [which is] sure to generate future debate.' David J. Telfer, Department of Tourism and Environment, Brock University, Canada 'Is sustainable tourism an idea 'whose time has now passed'? Or does uncritical allegiance to this notion blind us to the substantial economic benefits tourism brings to (differentially structured) global destinations? Sharpley says it does, and his case is cogently argued, empirically-based and compelling. The debate over international tourism has been raised to a new level.' David Harrison, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of the South Pacific, Fiji Islands 'well-crafted biij..recommended to all levels of undergraduate students as well as professionals.' J.R McDonald, Eastern Michigan University, Choice, 2010. 'This is a good book. It is clearly written... is critical of much coventional thinking, and contains succint summaries. As the first substantial critique of sustainability in the context of tourism, it merits serious attention. Furthermore, the book is good value for money and, as such, could be a good choice as a course text, as well as provocative reading for those who continue to espouse sustainable development uncritically.' Geoffery Wall, Tourism Review